Friends, we are in difficult times. Idaho Wants to Ban Gay Marriage. In my dreams, I remember the dream of Don Quixote, and I think each of us needs to grab the strength and the message of the impossible dream.
The Impossible Dream by Josh Grobin
“This is my quest, to follow that star. No matter how hopeless, no matter how far
To fight for the right, without question or pause, to be willing to march, march into Hell, for that Heavenly cause.
And I know if I’ll only be true to this glorious quest, that my heart will lie peaceful and calm when I’m laid to my rest.
And the world will be better for this. That one man, scorned and covered with scars, still strove with his last ounce of courage
To reach the unreachable, the unreachable, the unreachable star
And I’ll always dream the impossible dream.”
Oh, look who’s strutting into the spotlight again, the White Christian nationalist (WCN) and their ever-devoted sidekicks, the Mormons. Yes, folks, they’re here to recruit more souls to their echo chamber.
Their latest stunt? Aiming to get the Supreme Court to reconsider Obergefell v. Hodges so they can hand gay marriage rights back to individual states. Because nothing screams progress like rolling back equality in the name of “MAGA states’ rights,” right? Groundbreaking stuff, truly.
What’s Idaho Doing?
And let’s talk about hypocrisy, because they’ve got that in spades. Over in Idaho, the MAGA-loving lawmakers practically threw a parade for the Boise State University women’s volleyball team. Why? They forfeited a match against San Jose State, because brace yourself, a trans woman was on the opposing team. Inclusion and sportsmanship? Pfft, who needs those when you can vilify a student athlete instead! Honestly, Idaho, why not just go full dystopian and make a law banning trans people unless they undergo state-approved genital surgery? You’re so obsessed with legislating people’s bodies; why not put it in writing? Is it testosterone levels you’re worried about? Or are you afraid this trans athlete is going to “corrupt” your “innocent” volleyball team? Please, let’s not pretend you care about fairness when all you’re doing is spewing thinly-veiled bigotry.
Meanwhile, Idaho’s real problems are gathering dust. Let’s take a quick detour down memory lane, shall we? Idaho has a long history as a playground for white supremacists and far-right extremists. Remember the Aryan Nations?
Credit: AP Photo/Gary Stewart
Their compound at Hayden Lake? That little hate-fest wasn’t just a one-time thing. Sure, they got taken down in a $6.3 million lawsuit thanks to the Southern Poverty Law Center, but their legacy didn’t exactly pack up and leave. Hate crimes in Idaho? Rising. FBI data shows that racial minorities and the LGBTQ+ community are prime targets. Bravo, Idaho. Truly, what a legacy.
Other Groups in Idaho in Support of Banning Gay Marriage
And let’s not forget the ongoing anti-government militia vibes. Groups like the Oath Keepers and Three Percenters are thriving in rural Idaho, probably stockpiling tinfoil hats for their next conspiracy theory convention. But back to the subject of actual inclusion, maybe Idaho lawmakers missed the memo that Jesus himself interacted with trans folks. Oh yes, Matthew 19:12: “For there are eunuchs who were born that way, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others, and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven.” Translation: Live and let live. Or, in modern terms, mind your business.
Mormonism
And theMormons, oh, sweet, self-righteous Mormons. They’re so terrified of the big, bad “others” that they’ve wrapped themselves up in their sacred white underwear, AKA “temple garments.”.
Protecting their bodies from evil, are we? Honey, if those garments are going to shield you from the scary LGBTQ+ folks, maybe invest in a reinforced, airtight version. Especially before talking about how we should ban gay marriage. Honestly, at least make them stylish if you’re going to wear them with such conviction.
Evidently Even Pope Francis, yes, the Pope, has more chill than these folks. He said, “I don’t bless a ‘same-sex marriage,’ I bless two people who love each other.
Imagine that! A leader of faith acknowledging love over legal jargon. So maybe these evangelical lawmakers and their Mormon cohorts should take notes. Because at the end of the day, love wins, whether they like it or not, so there is no point in actually banning gay marriage.
George Freeman,
Presiding Chaplain Universal Life Church Monastery
